Navy ship to be named in honor of Giffords

A new U.S. warship -- fast, agile and lethal -- will soon prowl the sea and defend America while bearing the name of former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

At a ceremony Friday, the Navy announced plans to honor Giffords' fighting spirit by christening a 419-foot combat vessel with her name. The tribute comes barely a year after the Arizona congresswoman was shot in the head near Tucson and just weeks after she gave up her seat in the House of Representatives to focus on her recovery.

It is only the fourth time in history that a woman will be the inspiration for the naming of a Navy warship. "It is very rare for a warship to be named for a woman," said Capt. Pamela Kunze, a spokeswoman for Navy Secretary Ray Mabus.

During a Pentagon presentation, Mabus said he chose the vessel's name as a tribute to the valor exemplified by Giffords and her astronaut husband, retired Navy Capt. Mark Kelly. The Navy also cited her commitment to military and veterans affairs and border security.

Mabus described Giffords as a woman who "has become synonymous for courage, who has inspired the nation with remarkable resiliency and showed the possibilities of the human spirit."

"The name the ship bears, and the story represented by that name, will inspire all those who come in contact with this ship," Mabus said.

Clad in a bright-red jacket, the smiling Giffords joined in song with a service member who led the national anthem, then exclaimed loudly as a rendering of the future vessel was unveiled.

Giffords leaned on Mabus while walking and dragged her right foot -- evidence that she has not yet fully recovered.

Six people were killed and 13 wounded last January when a lone gunman opened fire outside a supermarket near Tucson. Roxanna Green, whose 9-year-old daughter, Christina-Taylor Green, died in the shooting, was named as the ship's sponsor, a role that includes christening the vessel. She also attended the naming ceremony.

So-called Littoral Combat Ships typically navigate close to shore but are versatile enough to be deployed in deep water, the Navy said. They can hit speeds of 40 knots, or about 46 mph. Last year, a Littoral Combat Ship participated in four missions that captured nine smuggling suspects, seized more than 5 tons of cocaine and disabled two drug boats.

Kunze, the Navy spokeswoman, said only a few vessels have been christened in honor of women in U.S. naval history. "Since 1850, this is only the 16th ship to be named for a woman," she said, "and the 13th to be named for a living person."

There are 285 active Navy ships. The USNS Amelia Earhart, for example, is a cargo vessel christened in honor of the female aviation pioneer, and the USNS Mary Sears is a research ship named after the Navy's first oceanographer.

Besides the USS Gabrielle Giffords, Kunze said only three combat vessels -- all destroyers -- are named for women: the USS Hopper, for a pioneer in computer programming; the USS Higbee, for a famous nurse; and the USS Roosevelt, for Eleanor Roosevelt and her presidential husband.

Ship names are selected by the Navy secretary according to conventions based on the type of vessel. Ballistic-missile submarines are generally named for states, while aircraft carriers are named for admirals, presidents or other prominent figures.

Because of the historic dominance of males in military service, male names prevail. For example, an online list of Navy ships shows 32 christened in honor of people named John, compared with just one for a person named Mary.

The USS Gabrielle Giffords, which is yet to be built, will be an Independence-class ship. Funded in the 2012 budget, its construction contract is expected to be awarded this year to Austal USA in Mobile, Ala.